Japan says North Korea poses ‘new level of threat’

North Korea’s missile development poses a “new level of threat,” Japan’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday in an annual report that also reiterated concerns over China’s increasing military posture.

“Especially since last year, when it pushed ahead with two nuclear tests and launched more than 20 ballistic missiles, it has posed a new level of threat,” Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said in the white paper.

Onodera, reappointed to the post last week after having served in the position 2012-2014, also reiterated phrasing from past reports calling the danger from North Korea “significant and imminent.”